 Poster: A snowHead
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Ray Zorro,
Santander can also give you a debit card on a Zero account - Just used it in Greece - no extra charges
BUT was a hassle getting it set up especially without making Santander my "primary" account (ie day to day/pay goes into account)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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skitrack, what was the exchange rate?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| Perhaps we should remember that SnowHeads is a forum and not a library? If the value of the euro to the pound is relevant in here, the price of spending your own cash should be too. There isn't really a relevant forum as far as I can see for this, and I don't think 'Apres Zone' is the right place, as a lot of people don't go there. |
Personally I take no notice which section threads happen to be in, I either click on 'View your posts' or 'View latest posts' and then read the threads accordingly.
I have a Nationwide credit card too that I took out at the time I opened my Flexaccount. Like most people on here I only opened the account to use it when travelling abroad. Its a shame they've changed it but by the sounds of it, they want the people who only use it for holidays to leave anyway. There were probably plenty of people doing that apart from Snowheads I expect.
Its August now already, not long until the ski season starts again 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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achilles,
1.18?? From memory - does that sound right? - will correct later if needed
We actually did a controlled test using the Santander card and one of our standard debit cards. They were knats whisker of eash other for exchange rate but no extra charges on the Santander card.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
| ........Personally I take no notice which section threads happen to be in, I either click on 'View your posts' or 'View latest posts' and then read the threads accordingly..... |
So you'd have been quite happy for this thread to have been raised in the snowboarding section. I'd have missed that, since I have it blocked.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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achilles, but that is your choice to block it. Even if it isn't blocked you don't have to read it unless the subject matter interests you
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Hells Bells, I block snowboarding because I have no interest in it. Same with Chalets and Appartments  . I read other sections because I have interest in what I expect to see in them. Before I realised the moderators simply didn't care what was posted where, I searched filtered by forum - but clearly that is now not possible - so the search engine has to limp along coping with what should heave been unnecessary 'All available' searches. Pity.
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achilles, that comment on the moderators is a rather unfair.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| achilles, that comment on the moderators is a rather unfair. |
| Hells Bells wrote: |
| Perhaps we should remember that SnowHeads is a forum and not a library?...... |
I rest my case. Love you lots anyway - but you know that. 
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achilles, of course and you know that I am happy to move threads if I think they are misplaced. In this case I didn't think it necessary.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| achilles wrote: |
| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
| ........Personally I take no notice which section threads happen to be in, I either click on 'View your posts' or 'View latest posts' and then read the threads accordingly..... |
So you'd have been quite happy for this thread to have been raised in the snowboarding section. I'd have missed that, since I have it blocked. |
achilles I didn't say I'd be happy for it to be wherever. I just said that for me personally, I use the method I described to see any new threads or existing threads with new posts. If this particular thread had been under Snowboarding, and I noticed that at the time, then yes I'd think that it had accidentally been posted under an inappropriate section.
I don't block off any sections, because I know that humans don't always follow 'rules' 100% of the time and sometimes it can come down to the opinion of the person who started the thread as to which section they post it in, so I'd rather use the method I use rather than eliminating any threads I might want to see. If I was prepared to block sections, well then I would be aware that I might miss some threads where someone has chosen a certain section to be most appropriate for their thread and it happens to be one of the sections I blocked. I'd rather not do that. If I don't want to read a thread in the list, I don't. It could be that the moderators don't see a reason for a particular thread to be moved to another section, and that's fine by me.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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VolklAttivaS5, totally agree, I do the same
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I always look upon the Pistes as the 'default' thread for any thing slightly snow related or any thing that can be related to the snow that does not specifically fit in to the other sections, and Apres section for anything that has no snow/Alps/Mountains etc related interest whatsoever. All seems quite simple really 
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You know it makes sense.
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rayscoops, yeah I tend to go with that logic too.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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So, could the preloaded mastercard "Kalixa" be the answer?? I see that it's now pushing itself with no FX fees, together with interbank rates.
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Poster: A snowHead
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rayscoops, yup me too. Seems to me some people are getting their knickers in a twist over nothing 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| achilles wrote: |
| Hmm. So all in all, the Nationwide debit card is better than my HSBC Premier's - and their credit card works well with a Flex Account. Think I'll switch. |
Though I guess in theory you could open an assortment of Premier accounts in different countries and then use the appropriate one.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| nbt wrote: |
| Quote: |
Kruisler, the post does belong in AZ - and I can't see why it should be 'more useful' here.
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Sorry, it's not off piste at all. As has been mentioned, many skiers (me included) have nationwide accounts specifically for using when abroad. I'll be ditching mine. |
It is the peolpe like you and tiffin who have caused the rest of us to now have to pay 
they make it quite clear that they have done this becaus ethey don't want the 900,000 or so customers who have a Nationwide Flex account that they ONLY use for foreign transactions.
Personally, I think they could have dealt with it better by doing something such as keeping European transactions free for people who pay in a certain average amount every month (say £750). Or who average more than a certain number of transactions on the account per month.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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alex_heney, I admit to opening the account for that purpose, but I now use it a lot more frequently. I think they could have dealt with it better too.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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alex_heney, I feel sure that Nationwide make money on each foreign cash withdrawal, they are offering close to Interbank Rates after all. My parents, both pensioners are currently using the Flexaccount while they stay in Spain. They both have their public and private pensions paid in to the UK, and withdraw as cash over there. Their accounts will be moving. The Nationwide will offer them nothing of value after November. I used to bank wholly with the Flexaccount, but so many errors were made in my name I moved to a conventional bank.
I'm not certain what you personally will have to pay as a result of a lot of customers taking their money and custom away from Nationwide?
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alex_heney, The service was offered and I took advantage of it. The offer was a sweetener to get more customers and guess what, people took them up on it. To now cry foul that it is oversubscribed is a little rich.
The problem IMO is caused by sites such as MSE which make it easy for people to work out good deals. Back before they existed people had to do some research and think for themselves to take advantage of "loopholes". Now you get a newsletter telling you about them, which forces retailers to change their practices and thus nullifying any advantage.
What next? Stop using my credit card as it causes cash users to pay more than they would have for things.
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alex_heney, what tiffin said. The bank *could* have offered the deal you describe but didn't. Blame the bank, not me
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| snowbunny wrote: |
| alex_heney, I feel sure that Nationwide make money on each foreign cash withdrawal, they are offering close to Interbank Rates after all. My parents, both pensioners are currently using the Flexaccount while they stay in Spain. They both have their public and private pensions paid in to the UK, and withdraw as cash over there. Their accounts will be moving. ..... |
To what bank though? Looking at the MSE lists I could not see a bank I would prefer. I'm really interested in this, since I am actively thinking of switching banks.
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achilles, They are in a very different situation to you. They also have Spanish Bank Accounts, so may choose to have Euro transfers made via the Pensions Unit in Glasgow (I think).
I currently have a Flexaccount for Euro/Sfr cash.
I have begun the process of obtaining Fair Fx cards to enable me to pre-load them with funds, via bank transfer. Cash withdrawals are not free, but they will not be as expensive as using a Flexaccount Card AFAICT.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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snowbunny, fair enough. Still looks like I'll be moving to the Natinwide. Pity they are no longer so good with the debit card for foreign transactions - but I guess if there was a very good reason for other banks not offering the service to customers free- that it was not commercially viable.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I opened a Spanish account a few years ago for a season out there. Not a bad solution while in Spain and you do get a good transfer rate. However, outside of Spain you get hit if you withdraw cash from ATM machines, but it seems fine for product\service based transactions in the rest of Europe.
The downside is that the annual charge is getting expensive.
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You know it makes sense.
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achilles, I'm not surprised. I was trying to check them out (La Caixa) a while ago. The most recent is AA- but that was 12 months ago. It seems quite hard to get up to date info.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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snowbunny, interesting - thanks for the heads-up. To be fair with HSBC, they are the nearest thing I know to the Bank of Mattress, but their interest rates on their savings products reflect that, too. OTOH, they have handled large cash transfers competently and without fuss. Switching to First Direct would not be tricky, I suppose, since it is an HSBC offshoot. I know I could save with someone other than my current account bank - but it is nice to have everything on one screen, and it can be very convenient when switching funds from one account to another. Time to dig out Money Which again.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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achilles, I went to first direct following Bank of Scotland's merger with the Halifax, after which they became utterly pants in every way. Service from fd has been excellent across the board, can't fault it.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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achilles, with the market being what it is I don't think that you can get everything in one neat package from the same provider any more. Chasing savings rates (or whatever) means that I find ease of transfer is important and first direct, having always been an internet/phone bank, does internet banking very well indeed. Although an offshoot of HSBC it has a very different approach and certainly doesn't offer the same products regarding savings rates etc.
They are about to celebrate their 20th birthday and have promised me (almost an original customer) some "exciting celebratory products" so will probably be offering some attractive deals to new customers too.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Tiger2, I am coming round to the view that I can't do it all on one screen, too. I was in town today and dropped by the HSBC Premier suite to deal with a matter. Zero queue, very pleasant young lady dealt very efficiently with what I wanted. The contrast with Nationwide, which I also dropped by, was stark - it had a lot of people in queues or waiting around. However, I visit my bank branch once in a blue moon, so that is scarcely an issue. To quote Fagan, "I'm reviewing the situation!"
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
dropped by the HSBC Premier suite
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How much does one pay for the privilege of having a "Premier suite" to drop by?
I have the similar offering from Natwest but keep meaning to cancel it as its claimed benefits are a total waste of money.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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jonm, zilch, in my case.
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